Financial security is important to all of us. You may think about it from the perspective of being able to take care of your family or the freedom to retire at a younger age or even just the comfort of knowing you have the security to care for yourself. Whatever your reason for wanting financial security, there are several ways to increase your net worth and bring you the financial peace you are looking for.

Make more money. This may mean getting a second job, furthering your education to get a better job or asking for a raise if you have been in your current position for a while and have a good performance record.

Spend less money. When you cut your expenses, you will be able to pay off debt faster and increase your savings. This will work two fold to increase your net worth.

Buy a house. Almost annually, a study is done to show the comparison between the net worth of homeowners and renters. A recent study revealed homeowners are worth more than 46 times more than renters. Why is this so? There are a couple reasons to consider. Homes are likely to appreciate while your mortgage stays the same. Over time, your home is very likely to appreciate in value. Even during an economic downturn, decreased values are most often temporary and will begin to rise again before too long. When your home value rises, your mortgage still stays the same. When the value of your rental rises, your landlord is likely to raise the amount of your rent to compensate for the change in value.

Another thing to think about is that when you pay your mortgage, you are able to recover most of that money (and sometimes even more due to appreciation) when you sell your home. When you rent a home, the money you spend can’t be recovered when you move out of your rental. You have just helped the landlord increase their net worth. Owning a home acts as a forced savings plan since you must pay your mortgage to keep the bank from foreclosing on you. With each month and year you pay your mortgage, you are growing your equity in your home. Over time, your equity increases and you are able to take advantage of that equity when you choose to sell your home. Assuming the value of your home has increased while you owned it coupled with your equity, you can see a nice return on homeownership with a little time.

Statistically, this makes a great case for homeownership but only you can decide what is right for you. If you don’t plan to stay in one area for a long time, this may not be the best time for you to buy a home. If you do plan to stay in one place for a while, it might be a good time to consider buying a home while increasing your net worth at the same time.

With few safe options for public entertainment available today, a drive-in movie theater has opened in Spring for your enjoyment. The Drive-In at Spring opens for shows on Friday, May 29 with two showings each evening. The 8:30 show will feature a family friendly option and an 11:15 show will be geared toward a more mature audience.

Movies shown are not new releases but are well-loved films you will enjoy seeing again. The drive-in theater will be located at Hurricane Harbor Splashtown in Spring, TX. Tickets for the shows are purchased by vehicle for either $28 or $35 depending on which section you select. Food and beverage will be available for sale or you may bring your own. Some shows have already sold out so you should purchase tickets right away if you want to attend a show.

For the younger crowd, a drive-in movie will be a fun new experience while older adults will enjoy a trip down memory lane with this fun experience.

Welcome to this wonderful home situated on the 15th fairway of the Cypress Course at the Champions Golf Club. This brick home sits on nearly half an acre and offers a unique one-of-a-kind floor plan with a three-car garage and a beautiful backyard pool surrounded by lush landscaping. The home includes four bedrooms, five full baths and one half bath plus more than 4,000 square feet of living space.

Inside the home offers a large kitchen with an island, granite countertops and abundant cabinets. A breakfast area is found off the kitchen with large windows overlooking the backyard and golf course. A large master suite offers a fireplace and sitting area for your comfort. The ensuite master bath includes a shower, jetted tub and large walk-in closet. Additionally, a large study with full bath is found on the first floor as well. The first level was built for entertaining with a spacious den with wood floors, high ceilings, a fireplace and built-ins. Formal living and dining rooms are available too. An oversized utility room offers a built-in desk. Upstairs, you will find three secondary bedrooms and a full bathroom. A huge bonus hobby/storage room is upstairs as well.

For more information about this home or to see more photos, click here.

While there’s plenty of snowbirds that choose a warmer climate to move to, there’s also a growing number of seniors that are choosing to stay in their own homes, or a smaller home close by, as they age.

How to prepare your home for aging in place

Though aging in place doesn’t necessarily constitute a big move, like migrating south might, there are still plenty of considerations to remember to make sure your home is manageable and comfortable to live in as you get older.

Layout considerations

Whether you are staying in your own home or moving to a slightly smaller home in the same area, it’s important to make sure your home has the right layout in order to make mobility and accessibility easy. A one-story floor plan, or a floor plan where your bedroom and necessary facilities are on the first floor works the best for aging in place, as it’s possible you may need a walker or wheelchair at some point.

Accessibility adjustments

Consider making other adjustments, including handrails in bathrooms for additional stability assistance, and widening doorways to accommodate a wheelchair, should you need it in the future. Swapping doorknobs for lever handles could also help, in case you run into any arthritis or joint issues in your hands and wrists.

Think about your location

Aside from making sure the home is easy to move around in, and accessible in case you have any health issues, you’ll also want to consider the location. It’s important to make sure that the area you’re planning to age-in-place in is close to medical facilities, senior support facilities, and has a good public transportation system, just in case you’re not able to drive in your later years. Proximity to friends, family members, and activities that you enjoy could also be something to consider if maintaining relationships and social circles is important to you.

Keep your yard manageable

Other things you may want to think about as you decide if your home is right to age in place in could include the size and manageability of your yard, the age and condition of your home, and the safety of your neighborhood. Lots that are large and a little worn down could prove to be more troublesome as you age and aren’t able to perform some of the tasks needed for upkeep. If you are planning to move to a new home to age-in-place, you may want to consider somewhere with a small yard, or a community where lawn and house care are available or provided.

Though for many people aging in place may be the ideal plan for retirement, it may not always be feasible. Checking through the above considerations can help you plan and adjust to make sure your home will suit your needs as you get older.

If you are thinking about aging in place, remember that I am here to help you. I can recommend professionals to help you make adjustments to your current home or help you sell your home and fine a new one that is better suited for your future needs.

With grocery stores seeing increased demand due to more people cooking at home and farmers missing sales due to the loss of restaurant business, purchasing some of your needs from the farmer’s market may be more enticing than ever. In addition, staying outside and shopping without a cart are ways you can increase the protection of yourself and your family.

While some farmer’s markets may not be open or may have adjusted their hours, many of them are open and vendors are bringing more with them than ever as they try to make up on missed sales. Before you head to your local market, check online for any current requirements they may have instituted to protect you and others. It may be necessary to wear a mask or not touch things and allow the vendors to select your items for you. You may want to bring your own bags or a basket to put your purchases in as well. Here are some local markets that are currently open. Let us know if you have shopped at other markets recently that are open.

When you are ready to sell your home, there are many unknowns. The two biggest questions most homeowners have are how much will it sell for and how long will it take to sell. It’s hard for anyone to answer these questions with a definitive answer but after your agent evaluates the current market and reviews your home, they will offer a good idea of when your home might sell but it is truly just their best guess.

One thing to remember when pricing your home is that the price can cause your home to sell faster or slower. For example, if the current market value of your home is $275,000 and you list it for $285,000, it is likely to take some time to sell. List that same home for $270,000 and you will likely have many showings and possibly multiple offers in a matter of days. If you are hoping your home sells quickly, it is important to price it appropriately. In some cases, a lower price can generate more showings and a better price if you receive multiple offers that drive the price up.

In most markets currently, home inventory is still limited causing homes to sell quickly in many cases. While this can be to your advantage, it is still in your hands. Price and condition will be a big factor in this and if your home is overpriced and poorly presented, it will not attract the same positive attention that a well-priced home in great condition will.

Your online presence is extremely important so take the time to make your home look its best so potential buyers can see all of its wonderful features from your online listing. If you don’t think your home looks its best, chances are others won’t either so take the time to prepare it for the market and for photos. The importance of your home’s photographic appeal cannot be stressed strongly enough. Make certain that the interior and exterior of your home are neat and tidy in all photographs. Consider the position of the sun, glare, shadowing, etc. to ensure that only quality photographs of your home are posted online.

Working together, we can come up with a marketing plan that will improve your home’s appeal to potential buyers and increase your chances of a quick sale. Contact me today for a consultation. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and help you determine the value and marketing time of your home.

With stay-at-home orders in place across much of the world, did you have to cancel a vacation or maybe you just have some extra time on your hands right now since you aren’t going about your usual routines. Whether you are trying to recover the vacation you missed or just want to escape to a destination you have always dreamed of, there are many amazing destinations you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. For most of us, there is never enough time or money to go everywhere we might want to go but now you can do it all.

If you are looking for a taste of China, try a “trek” across the Great Wall of China. With sections of the wall disappearing for various reasons, enjoy this as much as you can because it is changing every day.

If London is calling you, hit all the best spots before lunch! The London Eye, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey are just a few places you will want to visit. Can’t get enough of the Royal Family, here is an up close tour of Buckingham Palace.

The Taj Mahal is a breathtaking destination with a mausoleum, other buildings and gardens to explore.

Are you looking for a more adventurous destination? What’s better than Mount Everest? If you have considered training for this once-in-a-lifetime experience or just want a taste of what it’s about, this will share lots of great views and information about this great adventure.

If National Parks are you thing, you will never be bored. With so many options and thousands of acres to explore, you will always have another destination waiting for you. Enjoy three of the most famous here: Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon.

Did you miss out on your trip to Disney World or Disney Land? Make yourself a famous Dole Whip and enjoy this collection of virtual rides.

Machu Picchu is a commonly visited destination in Peru with legendary views and many things to explore. Explore this ancient civilization in exquisite detail.

Visit one of the most romantic cities in the world with this walking tour of Paris. Then, enjoy an in depth tour of the Louvre to see iconic exhibits.

With so many options right at your fingertips, you can trek through a National Park after breakfast, Buckingham Palace in the afternoon and skip the lines for all the best Disney rides after dinner. After you see it all virtually, you will know exactly where to go on your next vacation.

With mortgage rates at an all time low and the chance they may drop even further, this is a great time to reach out to your favorite mortgage lender to discuss refinancing. Depending on how long you have been in your house and what your interest rate is, it might be possible for you to refinance to a lower rate, a shorter term and reduce your monthly payment at the same time. Your lender can tell you if this makes sense for you.

One thing to remember is that there will be some closing costs to accompany refinancing your home but your savings will cover them quickly. However, if you are planning to sell your home this year, it may not make sense to refinance as you aren’t likely to recover those expenses before you sell your home.

While the Federal Reserve’s recent change to interest rates has potential to drop rates further, the rates haven’t changed significantly due to that because mortgage lenders have been backed up for some time lately due to the latest refinance frenzy but that’s ok. Mortgage rates were already low enough to justify you calling your lender. In the past, maybe your lender has reached out to you when mortgage rates dropped to ask you about refinancing. Don’t expect to hear from them this time because they don’t have time to call you. If you call them though, they will make time to help you.

Refinancing your home can be a great way to reduce your housing expenses, add money to your savings or pay down other debt. If you are nearing retirement, add your savings to an IRA or another retirement account for the future. Younger people may choose to use their savings to establish a college savings account for their children. Another option would be to use the money you save over a period of time to make some updates to your home. If you need a recommendation for a mortgage lender, call us today and we can connect you with one.

Every ten years, it’s time for the census and 2020 is the year. While your mind may be distracted by the current situation in our country regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to take a few minutes to complete the census for your household.

Though the current pandemic has shifted the timeline for the census in some ways, it hasn’t changed you being able to complete your online census now. Visit the 2020 Census website to do your part and share the requested information about your household. You may have received something in the mail about this in March but if you didn’t or don’t know where it is, just visit the Census website.

Here are 5 reasons to complete the census TODAY.

Help your schools get the money they deserve for teachers, other staff, buildings and other supplies they critically need.

Help local government get their share of money to provide essential services to your household.

Ensure your area is correctly represented with the right number of government representatives.

Help with road planning by letting the Department of Transportation know where you live.

If you fail to complete the census online or by mail, you will receive a visit from someone soon requesting you complete it. Go ahead and do your part and save them the visit.

It isn’t a lengthy process and is a great way to help your local area and state receive the funding needed for safety and positive growth and enhancement.

With everything going on in the world today, many people are concerned that the housing market will be the next industry to experience a setback. Currently, the United States is not experiencing a housing crisis and I don’t see that in the immediate future either. Here’s why.

A recession doesn’t immediately mean there will be a shift in the housing market. Recessions do indicate a shift in the overall economy but it doesn’t apply to all industries equally. The housing crisis in 2008 was a perfect storm of many different issues. Currently, there are fewer homes available than buyers in many markets and that excess demand will continue to place positive pressure on home prices. Further home prices have appreciated during three of the 5 most recent recessions.

Foreclosures are not expected to explode like 2008. There were many reasons that foreclosures were so prevalent in 2008 but increased equity in many homes compared to that time along with government action to temporarily halt foreclosures will ensure we don’t see a repeat of that scenario.

While real estate is an important part of our economy, it isn’t the driving force. Without a doubt, COVID-19 will leave a lasting impression on us all but we all still need a place to live and with the government involvement and assistance coming to the American people, housing is not positioned for a direct hit.

If you have questions and concerns about the real estate market, give us a call. We be happy to have a detailed discussion with you about your situation at any time. Further, if you are ready to buy or sell a home, don’t wait because of this. We can still help you with your real estate needs throughout this pandemic.

Most of us are home more than normal right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic that is sweeping the world. While you may be missing the activities you normally participate in outside of your home, make the most of this extra time at home and tackle some simple DIY projects around the house. Select projects that will improve the value of your home, increase your enjoyment of it or update an area that needs a change. You don’t have to be super handy or have thousands of tools to tackle many projects. Here are some simple ideas you can handle yourself.

Add a board and batten wall in your home with this simple DIY technique. Don’t plan to do the entire house. Start with one hall or room. This should be an accent not the entire house.

If your home is chaotic on most days. A mudroom wall will add instant organization to your home.

Don’t try to tackle too many projects at one time. Make a list and complete each one before you start on the next project. All of these projects can be done with simple tools and supplies that you can find at your local hardware store. Simple changes like these can make a nice impact and update your space in as little as a few hours.

Have you been thinking about selling your Houston home for a while now and finally are ready to take the leap? When buyers are looking for a home, there are many options they can choose from to finance the home. In the majority of instances, buyers will be taking out a mortgage on the property to cover the cost of it. Mortgages come in all sizes and styles so well-qualified buyers will have many options to choose from. If the buyer of your home is in a position to pay for your home with cash, there can be some additional advantages to selecting a cash buyer for your home over one who will need to secure a mortgage. Here are three reasons to keep your fingers crossed that your next homebuyer will have cash in the bank to cover their purchase.

One of the most challenging parts of buying a home can be the inspections, especially if the home is less than perfect. Is your home a fixer upper or does it have any kind of major flaw? Inspections can reveal all kinds of problems and if the buyer is getting a loan on a property, the lender may require that certain repairs be made to ensure the property meets their lending criteria.

Like inspections, an appraisal is required when a buyer is getting a mortgage. The lender will require the home to be worth at least as much as they are paying for it. If your property is in an area with climbing values and you were fortunate enough to have multiple offers on your home, the contract price may have escalated beyond your home’s market value. If the appraisal doesn’t come in as high as the price the buyers agree to pay for your home, they won’t be able to get a loan for the property unless they have cash to make up the difference.

If you are hoping to sell your home super-fast, a cash buyer can make that happen in weeks or sometimes even days. Selling a home doesn’t have to stretch out for months. It is the lenders that generally make that happen while homes are in underwriting. Selling a home to a cash buyer can be a quick and easy process.

Understand that the number of cash buyers in the home buying market is smaller than others especially if you have a higher priced home but if you have a cash buyer interested in your home, you may want to negotiate differently with them since the process will likely be smoother. If your property has flaws, searching for a cash buyer may be the only way to go and can help you ensure your property closes.